Sesión de Fútbol (Sesiones de Academia): AC Milan U12/14 camp session - part 2

Specific Practice (Problem 1)

Problem 1: Opposition overloading to isolate

Managed Team

Setting up the problem:

Team challenged to overload one side of the pitch to draw in the opposition, leaving the other side free for an option to switch and exploit the space in behind. Attempt to push the opposition back behind the reference point by positioning high up the pitch.

Managing opposition: 

7 and 11 start as wide as possible in the wide spaces touching the sideline, 8's in the half space channel with 9, 6 and 5 in the central space channel. 

When the ball goes wide, 6 and 9 move into half space channel towards the play, while nearest 8 and 5 move in line with front/back post (depending on side of play). Far 8 drifts centrally to position in line with goalkeeper, whilst winger remains in wide space.

When the opposition shifts across to follow the ball, play the ball to 11, when opposition drawn in, 11 play to 6. 6 then either plays a driven pass to 11 who moves into the far half space. 11 quickly progresses forwards and attempt to  who plays a driven pass to 7 in the wide space, or 6 plays a lofted pass to 7, who plays a driven pass in the half space for onrushing 8. 7 drives forwards to attempt to score from the half space.

 Challenge: Challenge the attacking team overload one side of the pitch to create space at the far side to allow the switch of play.

Target: A point for each successful switch of play, 3 points if a goal can be scored from a switch of play.

Conditions: 

Attacking team have a 3 touch limit before the ball is played to winger (i.e after overload to isolate tactic).

Focused Team

Solution: Organise into low block, defensive lines and compact shape.

Defensive team reorganises into a 5 - 2 - 0 formation, the back 5 are challenged to stay 8-10yards apart, with the 6's sat 10 yards in-front of the back line. Using the reference point, the defensive team drops back into the low block.

When the ball goes wide to the winger, the wing-back engages, pressing an angle to close down passing lane (use sideline as second defender) with the back line shifting across as a unit. Defensive team not to man mark, but stay in defensive lines and block passing lanes centrally. When the play is switched, shift across quickly with the wing-back coming across to engage winger.

Pitch Geography:

Back 5 not to push higher than their 18 yard box, emergency protection. When the ball played wide, wing-back to engage, LCB moving on line with 18 yard box line, CB at 6 yard line, RCB in line with GK and WB in line with 18 yard box line (other side). When ball switched, same routine at other side.

When ball left, nearest 6 in-front of LCB and far 6 in-front of CB, when ball right, nearest 6 in-front of RCB and far 6 in-front of CB. Maintain defensive lines. 

Target: A point given each time the wing-backs win the ball from winger, or the ball goes out of play.

Conditions: Defensive team can only defend 3 zones of the pitch. If they win the ball, only 8 seconds to try to score.

Coaching points:

Force the opposition wide

Keep play predictable

Pressure on the ball

Leave the futhest players.

Small Sided Game (Problem 2)

Problem 2: Opposition utilising 5 zones of the pitch, both 6 and 5 success in switching play to winger.

Managed Team

Setting up the problem:

Team challenged to ultilise all 5 zones of the pitch, showing good width and depth.  

Managing opposition:

7 and 11 start as wide as possible in the wide spaces touching the sideline, 8's in the half space channel with 9, 6 and 5 in the central space channel.

When the ball goes wide, 6 and 9 move into half space channel towards the play, while nearest 8 (who progresses forwards past 11) and 5 move in line with front/back post (depending on side of play). Far 8 maintains position in far half space, whilst winger remains in wide space.

Routine 1 - 11 plays to 6 in the half space, who switches to far 8 or winger in half/wide space.

Routine 2 - 11 plays a stronger weighted pass to 5 in the central channel, who switches play directly to winger.

11 to switch up routine, or play to the free man for switch.

Challenge: Challenge the to create good width and depth, with 6 and 5 creating good depth to create the passing lane.

Target: A point for each successful switch of play, 3 points if a goal can be scored from a switch of play.

Conditions: 

Attacking team have a 3 touch limit before the ball is played to winger (i.e after play is switched, no touch limit

Focused Team

Solution: High press, dictate play to 6 or 5, stop the switch

Defensive Team move into a high press, back line pushing above reference point. When the ball played to winger, wing back engages.

To force play to opposition 5, nearest 6 man marks opposite 6 to block passing lane. As ball played, trigger for second 6 to then press 5. 

To force play to opposition 6, nearest 6 pushes high on opposition 5 to block passing lane. Second 6 then shifts across in line with front/back post.  As ball played to opposition 6, Trigger for second 6 to press.

Pressure at an angle towards inside shoulder to prevent player from playing inside.

Pitch Geography:

Back 5 at least as high as reference point. As ball played wide, shift across to follow play with wing-back engaging. wide CB closest to play to move into half space with CB always in line with front post, wide CB in line with back post. WB to push about 10 yards infront of Wide CB.

If play switched, Wide CB to press and engage winger, with Wing back filling in position. 

Target: A point given every time the ball is won from 5 or 6, 3 points if leads to a goal.

Conditions: Defensive team can only defend 3 zones of the pitch. If they win the ball, only 8 seconds to try to score.

Coaching points:

Force the opposition wide

Keep play predictable

Pressure on the ball

Leave the futhest players.